US President Joe Biden ‘heartbroken’ by Desmond Tutu’s passing

South African anti-apartheid icon Desmond Tutu passed away at the age of 90 on Sunday, drawing heartfelt reactions and tributes from leaders across the world.

US President Joe Biden is the latest to release a statement on the late Nobel Peace Prize winner and has said that he is “heartbroken to learn of the passing of a true servant of God and of the people.”

“Born to a school teacher and a laundress and into poverty and entrenched racial segregation, Desmond Tutu followed his spiritual calling to create a better, freer, and more equal world. His legacy transcends borders and will echo throughout the ages,” wrote the US President in a statement released by the White House.

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President Biden also acknowledged Tutu’s impact on US foreign policy, saying, “We were blessed to spend time with him on several occasions over the past many years. His courage and moral clarity helped inspire our commitment to change American policy toward the repressive Apartheid regime in South Africa.”

Desmond Tutu is survived by his wife Leah and four children, and President Biden also extended his condolences to the family. “On behalf of the Biden family, we send our deepest condolences to his wife Leah and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And on behalf of the people of the United States, we send our deepest condolences to the people of South Africa who are mourning the loss of one of their most important founding fathers,” the statement read.

“May God bless Archbishop Desmond Tutu,” wrote President Biden, concluding his statement.

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Desmond Tutu dedicated his entire life to the fight against inequality, discrimination, and injustice, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. A friend of Nelson Mandela, he is one of the people credited with the end of apartheid in South Africa in 1994, and he dedicated his later years to championing LGTBQ and same-sex rights. Tutu spent his last years living with his wife Leah at the Oasis Frail Care Centre in Cape Town, and died a peaceful death.